Health Technology Case Study Twenty-six: Assistive Devices for Severe Speech Impairments Page: 35
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although a few of the papers can be obtained with
effort from individual contributors.
In time some of the missing information may
be supplied by alternative means under entirely
different kinds of auspices.
A prime example is CONFER, a computer
ized teleconferencing system, designed by Robert
Parries at the University of Michigan, Ann Ar
bor and organized by Shirley McNaughton at the
Blissymbolics Institute in Toronto during 1983
(26). Using a computer at Wayne State Universi
ty in Detroit, the system allows communication
aids professionals and anyone-vocal or nonvo
cal-with an interest in the field who has local
access to a computer and model telephone device
to have the same kind of interaction they would
have at a conference. Thus, one can send "items"
via the Wayne State Computer and telephone to
the entire group of people who belong to
CONFER or direct messages only to particular
members of CONFER. There is an initial charge
of $50 for this service and any additional charges
are made as more than $50 worth of service is
used. Billing is handled by the Blissymbolics
Institute.
Similarly, in 1981, the National Association of
State Directors of Special Education (abbreviated
as NASDSE and headquartered in Washington,
D. C.) opened Special Net, a 24 hour a day, 7
day a week, telephone access computerized newsCh. 4 Information and Funding for the Speech Impaired . 35
service, that has a number of "bulletin boards, "
and serves 22 States so far.
At present, the $200 a year service heavily em
phasizes legislative developments and other policy
issues in its bulletins to administrators in the
special education field. However, it is hoped that,
as additional subscribers are attracted to the serv
ice, the service's scope will expand to provide
more bulletins focusing on matters of immediate
practical action for special education teachers and
their students. NASDSE may eventually start a
second computerized network to deal specifical
ly with rehabilitation topics. If so, membership
will likely extend to any organization with rele
vant concerns and perhaps even to individual pro
fessionals (43).
At least one organization concerned with the
needs of individual handicapped persons has al
ready tied into the existing NASDSE network. The
California Repository for the Handicapped lo
cated in Sacramento has a "bulletin board" that
runs want ads on devices needed and devices
available, whether new or secondhand. At pres
ent its coverage is pretty much confined to the
blind portion of the handicapped community in
northern California. But there seems little reason
why other "bulletin boards" could not be orga
nized regionally to serve a wider spectrum of
needs.FUNDING ISSUES
On May 3, 1981, a Chicago jury awarded 46
year old Eileen Tannebaum $6.5 million and her
husband, Louis, an additional $2.5 million for in
juries she incurred during surgery that left her a
quadriplegic and unable to talk (37). Some of the
$8 million for which the case was ultimately set
tled was used to provide Mrs. Tannebaum a customized communication system, designed by the
Artificial Language Laboratory at Michigan State
University (10). Although larger than most, this
is one of several medical malpractice and personal
injury settlements the author of this study iden
tified that has been used to underwrite custom
ized assistive communication aids technologies.
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United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment. Health Technology Case Study Twenty-six: Assistive Devices for Severe Speech Impairments, report, December 1983; [Washington D.C.]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc39502/m1/40/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.